A/N: It's been awhile since I've updated – sorry to say, but I'm back now and hopefully able to keep this story underway. Reviews encouraged! Happy Reading!
Also this chapter was recently reposted, a lovely reviewer point out a couple errors involving slight grammar and characters traits so I changed it up a little. ^ _^
~Matilda
G. A. S
Stepping into Psych, Shawn didn't really know what he was in for. While his mind insisted that there was nothing wrong with flirting – his gut had an all too different take on the matter. It didn't twist and turn like it did when he was nervous, instead there was a just a rock sitting right in the center of his gut. He shouldn't have agreed to meet Don alone – especially so soon after….y'know….the lip thing. Shawn was barely sitting at his desk when the door opened and Don walked in, holding a coffee tray with two coffees.
"For me?" Shawn looked up when Don strode over to his desk putting of the hot plastic cups in front of him before taking his own seat across Shawn's desk.
"For you." Don confirmed and he took a sip from his own cup and leaned back in his seat. "Least I could do."
"Right." Shawn took the coffee with out argument and popped the lid, he took a couple sips while mulling over a few things in his head – finally he came to a conclusion and he regarded Don with a serious expression "Tell me about your tattoo."
"Well." Don became a little more alert then, and he sat up and bit, "About a year ago, Ray and I were actually an item – believe it or not. It was good, he was a cool guy – but then I changed as a person and we broke up. He didn't like that very much."
"So the tattoo – was it something you did dumb and drunk then? 'hey honey look, your names on my body' type deal?" Shawn asked.
"More or less, only he's a tattoo artist – so it was more 'hey honey, give me a tattoo' and instead of a dragon I got his name in big bold letters – this was roughly a month before we split."
"Okay." Shawn said, and closing his eyes he pulled together memories from the hotel room, Don's facial expression, to Ray's mannerisms – if Don was telling the truth about their former trysts, Shawn wasn't seeing it. "Honestly Don, when we were jumped I didn't feel like it wasn't anything personal. What's happening now has absolutely nothing to do with the fact he was your lover."
"I know." Don said "Well we broke up, and then we didn't talk – at all. Then right around the same time money started vanishing from my account. I start getting these calls. Weird ones."
"From Ray?" Shawn pressed. He was finally getting somewhere!
"From a guy who says he 'owns' Ray." Don answered "Told me I owed him money, was shit deep and to start paying up. I honestly don't remember owing anybody any money."
Shawn was willing to bet that whoever Don was talking about now was in one of those SUV's from the night before "So money's disappearing from your account – at the same time this guy – is claiming that you owe him. Do you know how much you supposedly owe?"
"9 Mill" Don said "Which is ridiculous – I don't need to borrow money, I shouldn't owe anybody."
"Oh I know that much." Shawn said "So – the money that's vanishing from your account, obviously it's being taken by the same people. Or atleast that's the assumption."
"The assumption." Don repeated "but it isn't, every time I get a call – it's the same amount – no less, I'm not given any new totals that match up to what I've lost."
"Identity theft." Shawn concluded "It's pretty clear now – can you make a list of everyone who would have access to your funds? Because how I see it, someone you know got themselves in pretty deep. Instead of taking the heat themselves though, they just coughed up your name instead of their own and now they're making off with your money."
"That's horrible!" Don said immediately – he tried to think then of all the people he knew who would try to best him like that, nothing was coming up in that noggin of his and he sighed. "You're sure about this Shawn?"
"It's a theory." Shawn said "Now an obvious question is – why haven't you changed account numbers?"
"Oh but I have." Don said "Twice now, but not a day after the paper work is processed and more money goes missing."
Shawn pinched the bridge of his nose then, he thought long and hard "Alright – your account, is this your only account?"
"Yes." Don said "Like I told you once, I have a lot of trust issues – I like all my money in one place. Not that it really matters at this point." He gave a weak little chuckle before chugging back the rest of his coffee.
"So this is the same account that funds your studio." Shawn said then "Which means – that your account numbers can be found on every single invoice that gets passed over your desk – every costume purchased, every set design, every song you acquire the rights to, and it's all on file, probably in your desk." Shawn gave an audible groan then shaking his head. "Which means -and I hate to burst your bubble, but my suspect list widened once again to everyone you work with."
"That….blows…." Don really didn't know what to say about that "So now what?"
"You're not going to like it." Shawn told him "But before you do anything today – I want you to change your account number again. Then I want you to bring your crew together and announce that production is shutting down."
Don gawked a bit "Shawn – I can't do that; this is my work you're screwing with."
"You don't actually have to shut down." Shawn said "When you make the announcement – I'll be in the background, reading people's vibes. It'll help me narrow down whose stealing from you – you just have to make them believe they're out of the job for five minutes. All I need is five minutes."
"Okay, five minutes." Don agreed "Now what?"
"Now you go to the bank." Shawn said "Change up the numbers – and call me, we'll head out then to set to spread the word."
"You're not coming with me?" Don asked.
"I'll meet you at the shoot; I have to head to the police station first." Shawn was up then grabbing keys.
"Seeing the boyfriend." The way Don's voice changed, had Shawn's ears perking a bit and he looked over to Don who was suddenly staring him down.
"If you must know – yes. I'm seeing the boyfriend." Shawn said.
"Curiousity." Don said suddenly "What does a normal date night usually mean for you two?"
"We stay in a lot." Shawn told him "If we're not watching Court TV we're watching movies, or real life mysterious on dateline….Monday night is Hoarders night though."
"Hoarders?" Don quirked a brow and Shawn offered a grin.
"Lassie hates it; I can't get enough of it."
"So he doesn't take you out then?" Don said "You just – sit on his couch."
"We're changing the subject now." Shawn insisted "I'll see you in a bit."
"Fine." Don said "I'll see you in a bit."
Shawn escorted Don to the door, and soon he was on his way to the police station. He was anxious, after last night all he wanted to do was make sure that he and Lassie were still okay – though why they wouldn't be was a mystery. Kind of.
"Lassie!" Shawn called for Lassiter's attention the second he got to other man's desk – Lassiter looked up and Shawn and Shawn frowned. Lassiter's eyes were puffy and red; he was wearing the same suit he had been wearing the night before. "Lassie…"
"Shawn." Lassiter didn't sound like himself at all, and they way he half stood to greet Shawn, had Shawn's head spinning – what was wrong?
"The computer room." Shawn said immediately "Do you want to talk there?" It was the best he could think of – so when Lassiter nodded and led him there, Shawn didn't complain he just wanted to know what was wrong. The door of the small room closed behind them, and there was a good long moment of just silence between the two men.
"I'm worried about you Shawn." Lassiter looked to Shawn, who was listening quite intently – Shawn blinked and had to sit down.
"Don't be worried, I'm okay – really. This whole Don thing is going to blow over; this case is going to be over."
"Not just that." Lassiter said "You – worry me, Gus agrees, O'Hara agrees – we're worried."
"….About?"
"Since your attack – last year, you blew it off way too easy. Way way too easy, you tell everyone you're the same but you're not."
"Lassie – what are you going on about?" Shawn tilted his head, becoming more confused.
"I've been up all night." Lassiter said "Trying to remember the last time you started a conversation about Oreo's and ended it with an 80's reference, you haven't been the same."
"I've been doing the best I can." Shawn admitted "and if you're really worked up over it – I believe in June of 2001 was when I ate an entire bag of Oreos while watching Bootlegged DVD's of Full House – terrible acting, but so much better then How I Met Your Mother. A show that has been making me angry since 2005 by the way, why do I keep watching? Who knows -I personally blame Jason Segel."
Lassiter sighed then and shook his head "That's not the point, you're not the same – you haven't been the same – and since Don showed up I can feel you slipping further away from me."
"Slipping away? !" Shawn was offended now "Last night I told you I loved you! Making that big a step is not slipping away – if anything it's the complete opposite."
"You took it back though." Lassiter retorted "Made up some excuse about lab rats and changed the subject!"
"Well your reaction wasn't as eloquent as I would've liked it to be, you didn't say it back – hell you barely said anything. At all. Of course I changed the subject! I was freaking out!" Shawn seethed a bit.
"I wasn't sure you meant it." Lassiter said quickly "It had been a long night, and we were already kind of arguing."
"Of course I meant it." Shawn said "Why wouldn't I mean it – you've done everything for me. You pulled me out of that house, covered in blood – you saved my life. When you didn't have to. Yes. I meant it."
"If Don had been the one to save you that night – would you love him?"
Shawn stood then, shaking his head. "No – not even a little, why would you even ask that question Lassie?"
"I – I don't know…" Lassiter was so tired he had no idea what he was going on about "This was a mistake."
Shawn sighed heavily "Go – home Lassie, sleep – sleep long and hard, please for both our sakes."
Lassiter shook his head and made for the door "I've got work to do."
Their hands touched the doorknob at the same time, Shawn taking Lassiter's hand easily in his and making Lassiter look at him one more time. Shawn wasn't sure why exactly he felt the need to say what he said next – but he hoped Lassiter would understand. "Everything is going to be fine."
Everything was not fine. The whole conversation was mulling through Shawn's head when he finally pulled up to Don's shoot – another set in Santa Barbara thankfully, but another text from Gus pretty much insured that once again Gus would not be joining him leaving Shawn feeling once again stranded.
"Shawn!"
Shawn put his game face on just in time to meet Don in the parking lot; he offered a curt nod and got straight down to business. "Got your account number fixed?"
"Yup." Don said "For the umpteenth time, it's becoming a habit now."
"Fun." Shawn added sarcastically "Alright, I'll be around – checking people out and what not, do what you have to do."
Picking out suspects was easier then Shawn anticipated – for a good five minutes Don had everyone together saying that the shoot was coming down and that he didn't have the funds to continue. People looked genuinely upset, which was expected but Shawn could pick out a few who looked angry, and a couple who actually looked pleased. Those were the people whose faces Shawn took to memory. Soon 40 people turned into 10.
"I got a list." Shawn said when he finally met up with Don an hour later "How good are you at remembering detail?" He asked Don then.
"Uh – depends on the detail." Don admitted. "Why?"
"Well I don't know anyone's name so – here." Shawn handed Don a crumbled piece of paper.
"Girl in purple t-shirt, tall black guy, too many hamburgers boy, lesbian who kind of looks like John Stamos, The twin with the lazy eye…..- really Shawn? You don't have any better descriptions?"
"Sometimes I like to play it cruel." Shawn said "That's only half the list – keep reading."
"Hairy Arms, Box Head Lady, strobe light guy, that kid from The Wonder Years?" Don laughed at those ones and then finally – "Daphne." Don raised an eyebrow "She's not even here today."
"I know." Shawn said "but after what she tried to do to me, it's a feeling I can't shake. Blackmail is certainly on the list of things thieve would do."
"Well we'll get to Daphne later." Don said "How about you point out who all these colourful people are and we'll get talking to them."
"My next step." Shawn agreed, and he wasn't the only one doing the talking.
Across town, Lassiter was more then concerned when Shawn had left. He still had no idea what he was trying to say earlier in the computer room and he regretted now even talking. So when McNabb offered a distraction he happily took it, figuring he could work with it – then get to bed.
"Ray Dunn requested you personally sir." McNabb said then, and Lassiter really didn't know what to say then. Ray Dunn was part of Shawn's case, a case where the client refused to involve police. Of course so far the most that's done is get his boyfriend hit on and attacked – so yes Lassiter was definitely going to talk to this guy. Then maybe he could pull some strings, get involved and make sure Shawn doesn't get his ass killed. He stepped into the hospital room looking the man over – Ray was a big man, with intensely dark features and a wide frame. Lassiter envisioned him the type to frequent the gym, and prison quite a lot. The fact Ray Dunn had tattoo's all over his face and arms only added to this M.O and even though the man was contained in a hospital bed Lassiter found himself checking to make sure he still had his gun.
"How's the stomach?" Lassiter asked, and Ray looked Lassiter over with a quick brow – and Ray laughed.
"There's a bullet hole in it." Ray responded "Didn't you read the police report detective?"
"What were you doing at the Barbara last night?" Lassiter pressed "and why did it include Don Lauren's hotel room?"
"Don Lauren is a snake." Ray said "Takes more then he can give – he's dirt. You know I'm telling the truth, you practically snarled when you said his name. Partly why I called you by the way. I have a source – tells me you're involved with that psychic he's been carting around."
Ray Dunn had Lassiter's attention "I may be – what does this have to do with anything?"
"Everything." Ray Dunn insisted "You have more leeway then I do, I need you to get that psychic away from Don so that when my partners make their next move, he won't be caught in the cross fire."
"You have partners?" Lassiter ignored the part of a possible dead Shawn for the time being. "Partners who are going to attempt to kill Don Lauren?"
"Not attempt." Ray said "Actually do it."
"You're practically confessing to murder here." Lassiter said "I need names."
"You can't arrest these guys." Ray said "The most you can do is take your psychic and get out – trust me."
"But I don't trust you." Lassiter said "Why would I trust you?"
"At 4PM today, an amount of $50 000 will appear in your HBC Saving's Account – that money is yours to keep. The transaction will read "G.A.S – you will not ask questions, you will simply carry on with your life, hopefully with your psychic still in tact."
"G.A.S…" Lassiter had only read that acronym once before in his entire career – he was a young, young cop then. "You're an assassin."
"No." Ray said "I'm the messenger – I work for the assassin. Don Lauren has been identified and he has been targeted. G.A.S Cpl has already laid out specific orders for the police to not get involved."
In short that meant Lassiter was getting paid to keep his mouth shut. Awesome.
"Then why are you telling me all this?" Lassiter said "I'm police."
"I'm telling you as a man detective." Ray spoke out of respect then, "I've been in your shoes before. It's a messy circle – and I'm giving you the chance I never had."
"The chance to?"
"Get your lover out alive."